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[Buddy Gilmore]

I don't believe that hosts should be put in the position of dealing with the kind of *&$#$% the Danny refers to. This is an issue for house management. Management needs to understand that this heckler is driving off paying customers, and possibly, a fine host. Ask your manager to hold out both hands - put a nickel in one and a dollar in the other. Tell him that nickel represents the heckler. The dollar is you and your singers. Hopefully your economically savvy house manager can figure this one out.

By the way, one way I think that singers can help on this: a bit of bonding during the first few songs. Be attentive and applaude enthusiastically. Usually that can help wake up a lethargic crowd; they don't know why they are applauding, but they clap anyway. If you get the house on your side, the heckler becomes the outcast. Either he gets tired of the glares, or maybe this is the time a singer speaks to management.